Three familiar faces return to Revs for 2013

The Revs will bring back left-handed pitchers Kris Regas and Yunior Novoa, as well as catcher Salvador Paniagua.

The signings were announced Wednesday by manager Mark Mason. The Revs now have five players under contract for the 2013 season, including four who return to the Revs after playing in York a season ago.

Regas was one of the top late-inning relievers in the Atlantic League last season, going 3-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 44 appearances after beginning the year in the Mexican League. Of his 44 outings, 35 were scoreless, including 30 of his final 35 appearances.

"Kris is one of the best relief pitchers in the league," Mason said in a team news release. "He gets some swings and misses, which allows us to use him in stressful situations during a game."

The 2013 season will mark Regas' third campaign in York. He was a member of the Revs' Atlantic League championship team in 2011, when he combined to make nine scoreless appearances including the postseason, after joining the team in September. Regas has ascended as high as the Triple-A level with the Detroit Tigers organization.

Novoa proved to be a versatile option for the Revs last season, making five starts, while excelling in his relief role. Out of the bullpen, Novoa posted a 2.84 ERA in 33 appearances, allowing 50 hits and 13 walks in 57 innings of work.

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"Yunior was very effective as a reliever last year," Mason said. "He can pitch multiple innings in relief, which helps take pressure off of everyone else in the bullpen."

The 6-foot, 4-inch Dominican Republic native reached the Triple-A level in the Washington Nationals organization, where he spent five seasons, after beginning his pro career with three seasons in the Chicago White Sox farm system. Novoa first pitched in the Atlantic League with the Lancaster Barnstormers in 2011.

Paniagua was acquired from San Angelo of United League Baseball for a player to be named later, and returns for a third season in York. The Revs' pitching staff holds a composite 4.12 ERA with Paniagua catching over the last two seasons, while the Atlantic League's average ERA during that time frame has been 4.41. Paniagua caught seven of the Revs' nine postseason games during their championship run in 2011.

"'Pani' calls an outstanding game and works well with the pitching staff," Mason said. "That was an important factor in our winning the championship with him behind the plate in 2011."

Paniagua also provides some pop at the plate, combining to hit 11 home runs in 97 games with York over the last two seasons, and 92 home runs over the course of his pro career. He hit .227 last season with York. Paniagua originally signed with the Boston Red Sox in 2001 and has played at the Double-A level in both the Red Sox and New York Mets organizations.

The Revs also announced that reliever Ricardo Gomez has signed a contract to pitch in the Mexican League. Gomez was a Second Team Atlantic League All-Star last season, going 4-1 with a 2.66 ERA and 17 saves, one short of matching the Revs' single-season club record.

The 2013 season begins April 18 at Sovereign Bank Stadium when the Revs host the Bridgeport Bluefish at 6:30 p.m.